Serena Williams breezes into US Open quarter-finals after setting record for Grand Slam match wins

The American’s 6-2, 6-3 victory over Yaroslava Shvedova in the fourth round of the US Open on Monday means she is now the all-time Grand Slam match wins record holder with 308, surpassing Roger Federer’s total.

Williams now bids for win No 309 in the quarter-finals on Wednesday against Simona Halep, the Romanian against whom she has a dominant 7-1 head-to-head record.

Williams, 34, said: ‘I think it’s really exciting. I just think winning 308 matches in general is pretty awesome. For that to be in a Grand Slam is pretty cool.

Williams’ power proved too strong for Shvedova and she eased to victory in 68 minutes without facing a single break point herself – she remarkably has only had to save one during the tournament so far.

Of her serving, Williams said: ‘I feel like it definitely helps me to be able to know that I can hold. I definitely feel like I can play returns easier.

‘But with that being said, I’m just trying to stay in that serving moment, just not serve over myself, just get high percentages in.